Orthopedic brace.



E. MUELLER.

ORTHOPEDIC BEACH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1912.

1,058,322, Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

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Atty'n ENGELBEETMUELLEE, E RESERVE TOWNSHIP, v.aLLEeHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

' ORTHOPEDIC BRAQE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

^ Application led J'une 7, 1912. Serial No. 702,284.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known' that I, ENGELBERT MUELLER, residing at Reserve township, in the county of Allegheny and State of'Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in rthopedic Braces, of which improvement the following is a specification.

The invention described herein has to do with orthopedic braces, and the object of the invention is to provide a brace which may be applied to a deformed limb joint in such a manner as to effect-a gradual straightening of the joint and at the same time allow the joint to move in its natural manner.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of the specification, one embodiment of the invention is shown in the form of a brace for straightening aydeformed footformed from stili' leather, or like materials,

in such a way that each member may be applied to and tightened upon a limb member. The said members are connected to 'each other by a rigid connection on the side of the joint toward which 4the deformity tends and by ayielding connection on the other side of the joint. Also the rigid connection is preferably of such a character as to be rigid in but one direction, such as a pivot connection. j

The brace illustrated herein is particularly arranged to straighten a left foot which turns downwardly and inwardly, and to such an end three sleeves are shown.- 'A sleeve 1 is formed to extendbeneath the heel and above the instep where itis divided longitudinally, as indicated' .by the line 2. Above, or at the upper end of sleeve 1,

v there is a second sleeve 3, properly shaped to engage theA leg just above the ankle 'oint; and, in order to tighten such sleeve 1n its position upon the leg, suitable lacing 4 is provided. At the lower end of the sleeve 1 there is athird sleeve 5, shaped to engage the foot, and provided also with lacing 6. The sleeves 3 and 5 overlap or telescope with the sleeve 1 so that by tightening the lacing in each of the said sleeves 3 and 5v in order to secure them in position, the' sleeve l will also be held tightly in its position about the heel and instep portion of the foot.`

.The sleeves are united on one side of the jointby pivots 7 and 8, which form an unyielding connection on the inside of the foot, that is, on the side of the foot toward which the deformity tends. It will be seen however that this connection does not prevent the joint from moving in its normal direction. On'the opposite side ofthe' brace the sleeves'are connected together bya yielding connection, which may be adjusted from time to time so that v the desired force tending to straighten the joint may be constantly maintained as the deformity becomes rectified.. To such an end the connections of the sleeves on the side opposite to the pivot connections are preferably strips of buckskin. An inlet strip 9' is sewed Ato the sleeve 1 in the posit-ion shown, and a similar strip 10 is sewed to the sleeve 5. It will be seen that by tightening the yielding strip or cord 11l in this particular connection, the foot will be gradually turned outwardly and upwardly. The yielding'.

while it is effective for its intended purpose,

it may be worn wit-hin a shoe.

I' claim as my invention:

1. An orthopedic brace consisting of sleeve members each surrounding and firmly engaging a limb on opposite sides of a joint whose deformity is to be corrected, the said sleeve members being united on one side of the said brace by an unyielding connection, and united on the opposite side of the brace by a yielding connection.

2. An orthopedic brace consisting of sleeve members formed of substantially rigid material, each of said members surrounding and firmly engaging a limb on opposite sides of a joint whose deformity is to be ses corrected, the said sleeve members bein pivoted to'each other on one side of the race and being united on the opposite side of the brace by a yielding connection.

3. An orthopedic brace consisting of telescoping sleeve members formed of substantially rigid material and provided with means for securing each member to one side of a joint, the said sleeve members being pivoted together on one side and in the direction of the action of the joint to be straightened, and being united by a yielding connection on the opposite side of the joint.

4. An orthopedic brace for an anklejoint consisting of a sleeve member formed to incase the heel and instep, a sleeve ut euch end of the said first named sleeve and provided With means' for tightenin in their positions on the leg and foot mem ers, the said sleeves telescoping with each other and pivoted to ether on one side of the brace, und adjusta 1e yielding connections between the said sleeves on the opposite side to the pivoted connections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 25 my hand.

. ENGELBERT MUELLER. Witnesses:

PAUL N. CmToHLow, FRANCIS J. 'loimssonr 

